Coin receptacle



1967 J. M. CHRISTENSEN 3,298,602

COIN RECEPTACLE Filed July 12, 1965 INVENTOQ Jascp/z 776 Cbr'z'sierzs'em United States Patent 3,298,602 COIN RECEPTACLE Joseph M. Christensen, 359 W. Belden Ave., Chicago, Ill. 60614 Filed July 12, 1965, Ser. No. 471,129 8 Claims. (Cl. 232-62) This invention relates to a construction which is adapted to be associated with a bag or other container whereby coins can be received therein. In particular, the invention is concerned with a coin receptacle which includes means adapted to prevent unauthorized removal of coins.

The use of coin operated machines has become increasingly popular. One problem associated with the handling of coins in such machines relates to p-ilfering or loss of coins which are deposited in the machines. In most facilities, the money deposited is stored over a period of time and is periodically collected. Coins have been lost accidentally by reason of the poor design of the coin boxes or coin bags employed. Furthermore, many cases have been recorded where pilfering of the deposited money has occurred. Many present designs of coin handling mechanisms are ineffective to prevent pilfering and, in some cases where pilfering is prevented, extremely costly steps have been taken by way of altering the coin handling mechanisms.

In some instances, coins are lost after the coin boxes or bags are removed from the machines. The loss can occur accidentally if these receptacles are inverted. Also, dishonest collectors have been known to remove the coins through the coin slot without actual damage to the receptacles. Furthermore, many coin operated facilities can be altered whereby coins deposited in the machine are diverted to other than the proper coin handling mechanisms. In such a case, articles are vended without recovery of revenue by the owner of the machine.

It is the general object of this invention to provide a coin receptacle which includes means for passing coins into the receptacle which are designed so that the coins cannot be removed from the receptacle.

It is a more particular object of this invention to provide an improved construction for the handling of coins and for association with a coin receptacle which will eifectively prevent removal of the coins from the receptacle by unauthorized individuals.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a construction of the type described which is characterized by relative simplicity, which can be economically manufactured, and which can be readily incorporated into currently available coinoperated constructions.

These and other objects of this invention will appear hereinafter and for purposes of illustration, but not of limitation, specific embodiments of the invention are shown in the accompanying drawing in which:

FIGURE 1 isa sectional view of a coin channel associatedwitha coin operated machine;

FIGURE 2' is a cross-sectional view taken about the line 2'2 ofFIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a top view of the coinchannel;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view of the coin channel taken about the line 44 of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view illustrating a coin bag having the coin channel of this invention associated therewith.

In applicants issued Patent No. 3,154,246, there is decribed a coin handling mechanism which includes a coin channel adapted to be associated with a coin receptacle. Bores are defined in the channel and balls are placed within these bores. With this arrangement, any attempt to remove coins by inverting the receptacle is thwarted due to the fact that the balls move along the bores to 3,298,602 Patented Jan. 17, 1967 block the coin passage. When the construction is held in its proper position for passing coins into the receptacle, the balls move to the opposite ends of the bores out of the path of movement of coins passing through the coin channel.

It has been found that the construction shown in this issued patent is not completely reliable since it is possible to design means which block the bores located on opposite sides of the coin channel whereby the balls will not serve to block passage of coins when the construction is inverted.

The instant invention provides a combination of bores and balls which is uniquely suitable for preventing pilfering of coin receptacles. Specifically, the instant invention provides for the use of at least three bores associated with the coin channel and placed in specific positions which effectively prevent the use of. any means for blocking the passages to the extent that removal of coins from the receptacle could be achieved. In addition, the instant invention provides a design for the various elements of the construction which greatly facilitates manufacture of the construction and assembly of the construction with a coin receptacle.

FIGURE 1 illustrates a fragmentary view of a coin bag. 10 with the coin channel 12 of this invention being associated therewith. The coin channel includes holder means14, and these holder means define grooves 16 at the sides thereof. A bracket member 18 includes inturned portions 20 which are adapted to be received in the grooves 16. The bracket member 20 can be associated in a permanent fashion with a vending machine or the like, and the combination of the portions 20 and grooves 16 provides for ready removal of the coin receptacle construction with respect to the machine.

The bracket 18 defines a central passage 22 which communicates with the coin receiving portions of the machine. The holder means define an upper coin receiving area 24 which communicates with the passage 22. It will be noted that the holder means is formed in two parts 26 and 28 with each part defining an. inclined inner surface for forming the passage area 24.

A pair of plates 30 are attached. to the holder means. Each of these plates defines an internal channel 32 with the combined channels forming an extension 34 of the coin passage. As show in FIGURE 1, the combination described permits movement of coins which enter the passage 22 into the bag 10'.

Each of the plates 30 defines semicircular bores 36, 38 and 40. The mating bores 36 and 38 of the respective plates provide converging passages near the upper end of the channel 34. The passage formed by the sernicircular bores 40 forms an intermediate passage beneath the converging passages.

Balls 42 are located in each of the bores. It will be apparent that the angular disposition of the respective bores causes the balls 42 to rest at the lower ends of the bores when the coin receptacle is properly situated. This provides for freedom of movement of coins into the bag. Inverting of the construction will, however, result in movement of the balls 42 intd obstructing positions.

The particular combination of the three bore arrangements referred to overcomes the difficulties described with reference to the aforementioned patent. Thus, any instrument or the like which could be employed for blocking the upper bores will not also block the lower bore. Since the ball 42 of this lower bore will be in the middle of the coin channel upon inverting of the construction, it will effectively block passage of coins. Similarly, any instrument which would block the bores on one side of the coin channel will not block a bore on the opposite side whereby the unit will still operate to achieve the desired result.

The construction of this invention is characterized by various other advantageous features. Relatively small bores 44 communicate with the larger bores whereby a narrow instrument can be inserted for unblocking the passages. Cleaning may be necessary where foreign material accidentally enters the bores or where means are inserted for deliberately blocking the passages.

It will be noted that the material of the bag extends upwardly between the plates 30 and the holding means 26 and 28. The construction illustrated provides a novel means for securing the coin channel to the bag by reason of this relationship. Thus, protrusions 46 are formed in the plates while corresponding depressions 48 are formed in the holding means. The bag material is, thus, effectively clamped into' holding relationship.

It will be understood that various changes and modifications may be made in the above described construction which provide the characteristics of this invention without departing from the spirit thereof particularly as defined in the following claims.

That which is claimed is:

1. In a coin receiving construction wherein a coin channel and a coin slot at the upper end of the channel are provided for passing coins to a coin receptacle associated therewith, the improvement wherein said channel comprises an upper portion extending along a vertical line and a lower portion curving away from said vertical line, antipilfering means incorporated in said channel to prevent passage of coins out through said slot after they are inserted into said receptacle, said antipilfering means comprising the combination of at least three bores defined by said channel, two of said bores extending an gularly upwardly from the side walls of said channel to ward said plot, the third bore being defined beneath said two bores and extending upwardly, each of said bores passing beyond said side walls whereby one end of each bore is located on opposite sides of said side walls, said third bore defining a bottom end located near the end of said curved portion of the channel with the upper end of said third bore extending to a position at the lower end of the straight portion of the channel and at approximately the midpoint thereof, and balls forming stop means confined within each of said bores and freely movable along the lengths of the bores whereby inverting of the construction will result in blocking of said coin channel by said balls.

2. A construction in accordance with claim 1 including bores of substantially smaller diameter than said first mentioned bores communicating each of said first mentioned bores with the exterior of the construction to permit insertion of a tool for cleaning said construction.

3. A construction in accordance with claim 1 wherein said coin channel is formed by means of a pair of plates, each of said plates defining semi-circular bores whereby mating of the plates results in formation of said three bores.

4. A construction in accordance with claim 3 including holder means defining said coin slot at the upper end of said coin channel, said holder means being adapted to be fitted around said plates for securing of the plates.

5. A construction in accordance with claim 4 wherein each of said plates define a plurality of protrusions extending outwardly from the outer side faces thereof, said holder means being formed in two parts, depressions defined in the inner surfaces of said of said parts corre sponding in position with said protrusions whereby said holder means is adapted to be clamped around said plates in precise position with respect to the plates.

6. A construction in accordance with claim 5 wherein said coin receptacle comprises a flexible material, and wherein portions of said material are interposed between said plates and said holder means whereby the combination of said protrusions and depressions serve to secure the coin receiving construction to the coin receptacle.

7. In a coin receiving construction, the improvement comprising a bracket permanently secured to said construction, said bracket defining a central coin passage, means defining a coin channel adapted to be removably secured to said bracket, a coin slot defined at the upper end of said channel and adapted to be aligned with the coin passage of said bracket for passing coins to a coin receptacle associated with said slot and channel, said coin channel comprising an upper portion extending along a vertical line and a lower portion curving away from said vertical line, antipilfering means incorporated in said channel to prevent passage of coins out through said slot after they are inserted into said receptacle, said antipilfering means comprising the combination of at least three bores defined by said channel, two of said bores extending angularly upwardly from the side walls of said channel toward said slot with the ends of said bores teminating at opposed locations on opposite sides of said vertical line extending through said slot, the third bore being defined beneath said two bores and extending upwardly with the end of said third bore terminating at a point coincident with said vertical line, each of said first two bores passing beyond said side walls whereby one end of each of said two bores is located on opposite sides of said side walls, said third bore defining a bottom end located near the end of said curved portion of the channel with the upper end of said third bore extending to a position at the lower end of the straight portion of the channel and at approximately the midpoint thereof and balls forming stop means confined within each of said bores and freely movable along the lengths of the bores whereby inverting of the construction will result in blocking of said coin channel by said balls.

8. A construction in accordance with claim 7 including grooves defined by the side walls of said coin channel means, and laterally opposed, inwardly turned portions defined by said bracket adapted to be slideably received in said grooves for removably securing the coin channel to said bracket.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 634,359 10/1899 Many 23262 634,360 10/1899 Many 23262 715,608 12/1902 Rogers 23262 1,010,881 12/ 19 11 Fisher 23262 1,928,624 10/1933 Kennedy 23266 2,347,526 4/ 1944 Truesdell 23215 X 2,694,609 11/1954 Trafiord 108-64 3,033,442 5/1962 Erlichman 23215 3,154,246 10/ 1964 Christensen 23262 3,182,769 5/1965 De Ridder 52-594 FOREIGN PATENTS 147,338 1/ 1904 Germany.

FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner. FRANCIS K. ZUGEL, Examiner. 

1. IN A COIN RECEIVING CONSTRUCTION WHEREIN A COIN CHANNEL AND A COIN SLOT AT THE UPPER END OF THE CHANNEL ARE PROVIDED FOR PASSING COINS TO A COIN RECEPTACLE ASSOCIATED THEREWITH, THE IMPROVEMENT WHEREIN SAID CHANNEL COMPRISES AN UPPER PORTION EXTENDING ALONG A VERTICAL LINE AND A LOWER PORTION CURVING AWAY FROM SAID VERTICAL LINE, ANTIPILFERING MEANS INCORPORATED IN SAID CHANNEL TO PREVENT PASSAGE OF COINS OUT THROUGH SAID SLOT AFTER THEY ARE INSERTED INTO SAID RECEPTACLE, SAID ANTIPILFERING MEANS COMPRISING THE COMBINATION OF AT LEAST THREE BORES DEFINED BY SAID CHANNEL, TWO OF SAID BORES EXTENDING ANGULARLY UPWARDLY FROM THE SIDE WALLS OF SAID CHANNEL TOWARD SAID PLOT, THE THIRD BORE BEING DEFINED BENEATH SAID TWO BORES AND EXTENDING UPWARDLY, EACH OF SAID BORES PASSING BEYOND SAID SIDE WALLS WHEREBY ONE END OF EACH BORE IS LOCATED ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID WALLS, SAID THIRD BORE DEFINING A BOTTOM END LOCATED NEAR THE END OF SAID CURVED PORTION OF THE CHANNEL WITH THE UPPER END OF SAID THIRD BORE EXTENDING TO A POSITION AT THE LOWER END OF THE STRAIGHT PORTION OF THE CHANNEL AND AT APPROXIMATELY THE MIDPOINT THEREOF, AND BALLS FORMING STOP MEANS CONFINED WITHIN EACH OF SAID BORES AND FREELY MOVABLE ALONG THE LENGTHS OF THE BORES WHEREBY INVERTING OF THE CONSTRUCTION WILL RESULT IN BLOCKING OF SAID COIN CHANNEL BY SAID BALLS. 